Crowne Plaza Geelong has officially opened today, bringing a relaxed and stylish new hotel experience to one of Victoria’s most exciting coastal cities.
Set directly on the waterfront and just steps from the soon-to-open Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, the new-build $120 million hotel signals a new wave of energy for the region as tourism, events and culture continue to evolve along the bay.
The opening comes at a moment of strong momentum for Geelong, with the hotel welcoming a packed house in its first days, accommodating leisure guests for the long weekend and visitors travelling to the region for major summer sporting events.
General Manager, Crowne Plaza Geelong, John Dickson said the opening marked a proud milestone for both the hotel and the city.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be opening the doors to Crowne Plaza Geelong today. To launch at a time when the city is buzzing with major events and welcoming visitors from near and far is incredibly exciting,” John said.
“The Crowne Plaza brand is centered around bringing people together, whether they are travelling for sport, business or leisure, or meeting locally to dine and connect. From day one, our focus has been on creating a hotel that feels connected to Geelong, its waterfront and its community. Seeing the hotel come to life with a full house during opening week is exactly what we hoped for.”
The hotel features 200 rooms and suites designed with refined comfort in mind, offering either city outlooks or soothing views across the bay. Warm textures, coastal tones and contemporary details combine to create a calm, welcoming feel on arrival, complemented by a significant commissioned artwork by local artist Kate Robertson. Created specifically for the hotel, the commission comprises photographs that draw on the native flora planted within the hotel and conference centre gardens.
The hotel also showcases a significant commissioned artwork by local artist Kate Robertson, created specifically for Crowne Plaza Geelong. The commission comprises nine original photographic works, reproduced as more than 450 framed pieces installed throughout guest rooms and corridors
Food and drink sit at the heart of the experience. A relaxed ground-floor café, Verde on Smythe, brewing Piazza Dora coffee will serve both hotel guests and locals, while the hotel’s first floor restaurant Sociali Trattoria & Bar offers an inviting neighbourhood ambiance with handmade pasta and pizza, generous antipasti and Italian favourites designed to gather around. Up on level ten, The Skyline Bar is set to become a go-to for sunset cocktails and late-night snacks, pairing panoramic bay views with seasonal small plates, local wines, craft beers and small-batch gins from the region.
Guests can keep their routines going with a well-equipped gym and an indoor heated pool perfect for year round dips. For those travelling to meet, celebrate or collaborate, the hotel offers eight event spaces filled with natural light, contemporary design and offering water-fronting views. These flexible spaces are suited to everything from weddings and conferences to executive retreats, reinforcing Crowne Plaza’s role as a place where meaningful connections are made.
Plenary Group CEO, Paul Crowe, said “Projects like this come to life through strong collaboration, and we’ve been proud to work alongside IHG, the City of Greater Geelong and local stakeholders to deliver a hotel that complements the city’s vision for its waterfront. Crowne Plaza Geelong is the result of that shared commitment and the hotel will play a key role in supporting Geelong’s growing visitor economy, providing the quality accommodation needed to attract and host national and international audiences so they can enjoy Geelong and this amazing region.”
Opening in time for the summer season, the hotel also marks Crowne Plaza’s debut in regional Victoria, arriving as Geelong rapidly cements itself as one of Australia’s most compelling coastal destinations. The hotel forms part of a broader transformation of the waterfront, with new dining, retail and mixed-use precincts set to add even more character to the city in the years ahead, and establishing a new address where connections begin for visitors, locals and the wider region.
